Sol/gels containing nonionic surfactants and preparation methods

ABSTRACT

An electrically conductive polymer composition containing a nonconjugated polymer and a salt is prepared by admixing a sol or gel composition containing the salt with a polymer. A novel sol or gel composition containing a nonionic surfactant stabilizer is useful for preparing the electrically conductive composition. An intermediate mixture of salt, stabilizer and solvent are heated to prepare a sol or gel which is typically admixed with a latex to produce a product admixture containing the salt and a latex polymer. The product admixture is dried to produce a resultant latex polymer/salt composition having electrically conductive properties useful, as for example, as an antistatic carpet coating.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 305,451, filedFeb. 1, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,562.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to polymer compositions, sol or gel compositions,electrically conductive compositions containing a latex polymer, and thepreparations thereof.

The achievement of tailored electrical properties of compositionscontaining polymers is usually pursued in several ways. One approachconsists of modifying the intrinsic bulk properties of polymers byprocessing, especially by pyrolysis. In this approach, acceptableelectrical properties are developed by altering the chemical compositionor structure of the initial material. A second approach is to attain thedesired conductivity by incorporating macroscopic pieces of conductingmaterial (metal flakes, carbon-black particulates, or carbon fibers, forexample) in host polymers to form conducting composites. It is thetraditional approach in the preparation of conducting polymers and isused today in the fabrication of nearly all commercial products based onconductive polymers. Another approach focuses on increasing theelectrical conductance of conjugated polymers (i.e., polymers whichalready have at least some electrical conductance) at the molecularlevel by controlled incorporation of molecular dopants that may or maynot form charge-transfer complexes with the host conjugated polymer. Itis called molecular doping because it consists of diffusing isolatedmolecular dopants (AsF₅ or I₂, for example) into conjugated polymers.

Polymers capable of being stabilized in aqueous media are called latexpolymers and a latex ordinarily contains at least one latex polymer andat least one surfactant dispersed in water. Presently, latex polymersare not conjugated, e.g., latex polymers are considered insulators. Inorder to produce acceptable electrical conductance properties incompositions containing latex polymers, materials responsible for suchconductance must be compatibly combined with the latex. Compositionscontaining latex polymers coagulate when admixed with aqueous solutionsof salts. For instance, an aqueous solution of cupric acetate added to alatex composition containing styrene butadiene rubber will causecoagulation of the styrene butadiene rubber within a short time aftercontact.

However, investigators have prepared hydrosols which contain materialssuch as colloidal antimony oxide in an attempt to find materials whichmay be added compatibly to a latex composition (i.e., added withoutcoagulation). For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,989 issued to Petrowet al., a colloidal antimony oxide (hydrosol) was mixed in equal amountswith polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) to improve the clarity of PVDCfilms.

The search continues for methods to compatibly mix salts with latexpolymers. The resultant admixture of latex and salt provides for anumber of useful compositions such as electrically conductivecompositions containing latex polymers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a substantially nonaqueous compositioncontaining a latex polymer and a salt. The salt is disposed in the latexpolymer in the form of anions and cations and/or colloidal saltparticulates. The resultant latex polymer/salt composition is usuallyprepared by admixing a composition containing a starting latex polymerwith a sol or gel containing a salt.

In one embodiment of the invention, a novel process is used to prepare anonaqueous sol or gel wherein at least one nonaqueous solvent, at leastone stabilizer, and at least one salt are admixed and then heated to atemperature sufficient to produce a sol or gel containing the salt. Anacidic component is also usually added to the admixture prior toheating. The nonaqueous solvent is usually a form of polyhydroxyl etheror polyhydroxyl alcohol, the stabilizer is usually a chelator, such as ahydroxycarboxylic acid, or a nonionic surfactant, and the admixture isusually heated to a temperature less than 100° C. to form a product solor gel composition. After cooling with optional addition of more acidcomponent, such a product sol or gel may be admixed with a compositioncontaining a starting latex polymer to produce a stable, noncoagulatedproduct admixture composition containing a latex polymer and a salt.

In another embodiment, a novel sol or gel composition contains at leastone solvent, at least one salt, and a stabilizer comprising a nonionicsurfactant. A typical non-ionic surfactant has the formula

    R--(EO).sub.x (PO).sub.y --R.sup.1

wherein each of R and R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen,hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl, dialkylaryl, aliphatic ester andaryl ester radicals, EO is ethylene oxide, PO is propylene oxide and xand y are nonnegative integers.

In still another embodiment, the invention relates to a novelintermediate composition useful in the preparation of a sol or gel. Thecomposition includes a mixture of at least one solvent, at least onesalt, and a stabilizer comprising a nonionic surfactant. Ordinarily thesolvent is nonaqueous, and the pH is less than 7.0 and is capable ofbeing heated to form a sol or gel.

The sol or gel compositions of the invention may be admixed with acomposition containing a starting polymer to produce a product admixturecontaining the sol or gel and the starting polymer. The productadmixture is dried to produce a product composition containing the saltfrom the sol or gel and the polymer. The salt is dispersed in thepolymer in a form compatible to the particular polymer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a stable, noncoagulatedproduct admixture composition is prepared by admixing an above-mentionedsol or gel composition with a composition containing a starting latexpolymer. The stable, noncoagulated product admixture containing thelatex polymer and sol or gel is dried to produce a resultant latexpolymer/salt composition which is highly useful as a latex polymercomposition having electrically conductive properties. Otherapplications of the resultant latex polymer/salt compositions includetheir use as biocidal polymers, polymer coatings for anodic and cathodicprotection, microwave food coatings, gloss enhanced polymers, laminatedcoatings as barriers to stain migration in textiles and floor coverings,sorbents containing flame retardant sols, polymers useful as delay crosslinkers in reservoir plugging, polymers for thermal heating elements,catalytic agents, and antistatic adhesive tapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A sol or gel is prepared for addition to a composition containing astarting latex polymer. The sol or gel composition is prepared byadmixing, in any order, at least one solvent, at least one stabilizer,and at least one salt. In an alternative embodiment, an acidic componentmay also be added to the admixture.

Typical solvents utilized in the preparation of the sol or gel includenonaqueous solvents such as organic solvents, particularly polyols, suchas for example a polyhydroxyl ether or a polyhydroxyl alcohol.Nonaqueous sols or gels containing organic solvents and essentially nowater are typically referred to as organosols or organogels. Moreparticular examples of useful solvents for preparing organosols ororganogels include ethylene glycol, glycerine, pentanediol,polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, mixed(polyoxyethlene-polypropylene) glycol and blocked(polyoxyethlene-polyoxypropylene) glycol.

In the preparation of the sol or gel composition, at least onestabilizer is added to the admixture. The stabilizer is usually achelator and/or a nonionic surfactant. Examples of common chelatorsuseful in the invention are hydroxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid,tartaric acid, mesotartaric acid, glycolic acid, γ-hydroxybutyric acid,mandelic acid, glyceric acid, malic acid and lactic acid, with citricacid being the most highly preferred. The non-ionic surfactantstabilizers ordinarily contain ethylene oxide (EO) and/or, propyleneoxide (PO). The nonionic surfactant stabilizers may also include mixedEO-PO or blocked EO-PO arrays. One example of a nonionic surfactant hasthe formula

    R--(EO).sub.x (PO).sub.y --R.sup.1

wherein each of R and R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen,hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl, dialkylaryl, aliphatic ester andaryl ester radicals, and x and y are nonnegative integers. Anothernonionic stabilizer is a glycerine derived nonionic surfactant havingthe formula ##STR1## wherein each of R, R¹ and R¹¹ is independentlyselected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl,dialkylaryl aliphatic ester and aryl ester radicals, and x, y, a, b, mand n are nonnegative integers. Illustrative of nonionic surfactants arealkylpolyglycol ethers such as ethoxylation products of lauryl, oleyl,and stearyl alcohols or mixtures of such alcohols as coconut fattyalcohols; alkylphenol polyglycol ethers such as ethoxylation products ofoctyl- or nonylphenol, diisopropylphenol, triisopropylphenol, di- ortri-tertiarybutyl phenol, etc. Preferred nonionic surfactants includemono- or di-alkyl oxyalkylated phenolics. A highly preferred nonionicsurfactant useful herein contains about 1 to about 100 percent by weightof ethylene oxide in combination with 0 to about 99 percent by weight ofpropylene oxide and has a molecular weight from about 62 to about 5,000.Examples of such surfactants include 6-50 mol EO lauryl alcohol, 6-50mol EO cetyl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO mystryl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO stearylalcohol, 6-50 mol EO phenol, 6-50 mol EO butyl phenol, 6-50 mol RO octylphenol, 6-50 mol EO decyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO dodecyl phenol, 6-50 molEO nonyl phenol, and 10-90 mol EO sorbitan monolaurate or monocetylate,monomystralate or monostearate. Numerous other examples of suitablenonionic surfactants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,600,831,2,271,622, 2271,623, 2,275,727, 2,787,604, 2,816,920, and 2,739,891, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Any salt is useful in the invention. Both organic and inorganic saltsmay be utilized. The salt must be capable of (1) existing as colloidalsalt particulates, (2) existing in ion species or (3) forming ions whendispersed in a composition containing a latex polymer. In the formationof a sol or gel, the salt contains cations or anions capable of beingdispersed in the admixture of solvent and stabilizer. The anions orcations of the salt are usually metallic cations or metallic-containinganions, monomeric nonmetallic cations or monomeric nonmetallic anions,or polymeric nonmetallic cations or polymeric nonmetallic anions. Anymetal or nonmetal may be contained in the cations or anions. Usefulmetallic cations of the salt include the cations of antimony, yttrium,cadmium, silver, calcium, cerium, manganese, nickel, niobium, lead,uranium, barium, chromium, cesium, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium,palladium, praseodymium, aluminum, cobalt, iron, gold, lanthanum,magnesium, thallium, zinc, dysprosium, samarium, gadolinium, erbium,strontium, ytterbium, titanium and mercury. Examples of useful monomericnonmetallic cations of the salt include ammonium, boron andsilicon-containing cations. Useful monomeric nonmetallic anions of thesalt include those containing nitrates, acetates, halides, borates,formates, citrates, benzoates, tartrates, phosphates, silicates,nitrites, carbonates, oxides and alkoxides. Examples of a number ofmetallic-containing anions useful herein include those containing theelements arsenic, chromium, manganese, tin, aluminum, titanium,zirconium, vanadium or molybdenum. Salts useful herein containingnonmetallic anions typically contain an element such as fluorine,oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, tellurium, selenium, phosphorus, sulfur,chlorine, bromine and iodine. Furthermore, the salts may providepolymeric cations such as monoolefinic quaternary ammonium cations,diolefinic quaternary ammonium cations, triolefinic quaternary ammoniumcations and tetraolefinic quaternary ammonium cations. Also the saltsmay contain polymeric anions such as alkyl, aryl, ether, or alkylarylsulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates and polycarboxylates.

In the process of preparing the sol or gel, an acidic component issometimes added to the admixture of solvent, stabilizer and salt.Usually the acid component is added to provide for a transparentproduct. The acidic component is usually a protic acid, such asconcentrated nitric acid, concentrated hydrochloric acid or concentratedsulfuric acid; however, a Lewis acid may also be utilized. An acidiccomponent may be added to the admixture of solvent, stabilizer and salteither before, during or after the admixture is heated to a temperaturesufficient to form a sol or gel.

The admixture of solvent, stabilizer and salt, and optionally an acidiccomponent is ordinarily prepared at room temperature and the temperatureraised usually to less than 100° C. to produce a sol or gel containingthe desired salt. The temperature to which the admixture is heated isusually dependent upon the particular salt or salts contained in theadmixture; however, a significant number of admixtures containing asalt, particularly an inorganic salt, are heated to a temperature in therange from about 30° C. to about 90° C. and more preferably in the rangefrom about 35° C. to about 85° C. In one embodiment for preparing thesol or gel containing a solvent, stabilizer, salt and acidic component,the ingredients are admixed at room temperature and slowly heated to atemperature in the range from about 35° C. to about 85° C. for a periodsufficient to produce a transparent product, ordinarily from about 0.5to about 15 hours, and having the color of the characteristic anion orcation of the particular salt in the admixture. The transparent productis a sol or gel composition containing the cations and anions and/orcolloidal salt particulates of the particular salt of the admixture.Often the transparent product becomes cloudy or opaque when theadmixture is cooled to room temperature. If the transparent productbecomes opaque or cloudy, additional sufficient portions of the acidiccomponent may be added to the opaque product to produce a sol or gelcomposition having substantially the same degree of transparency andclarity as observed at the elevated temperature necessary to initiallyform the sol or gel.

Whether or not the acidic component is added to the admixture ofsolvent, stabilizer and salt, the pH of the admixture, either before orafter heating, is generally less than 7 0 and usually less than 4.0. Itis preferred that the pH of the admixture of the sol or gel compositionbe less than about 3.0, particularly when the acidic component is addedto the admixture, and it is highly preferred that the pH be less thanabout 1.0. Also, as will be seen hereinafter in the examples, manyinstances exist where the pH of the sol or gel composition is less thanabout 0.1.

In another embodiment of the invention, a novel sol or gel compositionis prepared by heating a mixture of at least one solvent with at leastone salt and a stabilizer containing a nonionic surfactant. An acidiccomponent may optionally be added to the admixture either before orafter heating the admixture to a temperature sufficient to form a sol orgel composition; typically such a temperature is in the range from about30° to about 95° C. The solvent is typically a nonaqueous solvent,commonly an organic solvent, which, in admixture with the nonionicsurfactant and the salt, comprises an organosol or organogel when thetemperature of the admixture has been increased sufficiently to form thesol or gel composition.

The sol or gel composition described herein may be combined with acomposition containing a polymer to produce a product admixturecontaining the components of the sol or gel composition and the polymer.Preferably, a stable, noncoagulated product admixture compositioncontaining a latex polymer and a salt is prepared by admixing the sol orgel composition described herein with a composition containing astarting latex polymer. Although the above described sol or gelcomposition may be admixed with a composition containing any startingpolymer, a latex polymer is preferably employed as the starting latexpolymer to which the sol or gel composition is admixed. As used herein,any polymer capable of being dispersed, emulsified or suspended in alatex is considered a latex polymer. The latex polymer utilized hereinis not conjugated. Preferred starting latex polymers of the inventioninclude (1) conjugated diolefin polymers containing one or moreconjugated diene monomers having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, preferablycontaining at least 10 weight percent of the conjugated diene monomers,and usually in combination with one or more alkenyl substitutedmonoaromatic monomers, typically in the range from about 1 to about 70weight percent of the latex polymer, (2) olefin-ester interpolymerscontaining a monoolefin monomer having up to 4 carbon atoms acid,preferably containing at least 10 weight percent of the polymer, (3)olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester polymers containingpolymerized, olefinically unsaturated monomers containing polymerizedolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomers, preferablycontaining at least 10 weight percent of the latex polymer, (4) polymersof olefinically unsaturated monomers containing alkenyl ether monomerunits, preferably in the amount of at least 10 weight percent of thelatex polymer, (5) polymers of vinylidene chloride or vinyl chloridewith or without other polymerized, olefinically unsaturated monomers,and (6) combinations thereof.

The compositions containing starting latex polymers can be prepared asaqueous dispersions, emulsions, suspensions, and the like, by proceduresknown in the art to be suitable for preparation of the aforementioned 5classes of starting latex polymers. For instance, aqueous starting latexpolymer dispersions can be prepared by gradually adding each monomersimultaneously to an aqueous reaction medium at a rate proportionate tothe respective percentage of each monomer in a finished polymer andinitiating and continuing polymerization by providing in the aqueousreaction medium a suitable polymerization catalyst. Illustrative of suchcatalysts are free radical initiators and redox systems such as hydrogenperoxide, potassium or ammonium peroxydisulfate, dibenzoyl peroxide,lauryl peroxide, di-tertiarybutyl peroxide, bisazodiisobutyronitrile,either alone or together with one or more reducing components such assodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, glucose, ascorbic acid,erythorbic acid, etc. The reaction is continued with agitation at atemperature sufficient to maintain an adequate reaction rate until alladded monomers are consumed. Monomer addition is usually continued untilthe latex (dispersion) reaches a polymer concentration of about 10 toabout 60 weight percent.

Protective colloids may be added to an aqueous polymer dispersion eitherduring or after the reaction period. Illustrative protective colloidsinclude gum arabic, starch, alginates, and modified natural substancessuch as methyl-, ethyl-, hydroxyalkyl-, and carboxymethyl cellulose, andsynthetic substances such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,and mixtures of two or more of such substances. Fillers and/orextenders, such as dispersible clays and colorants, including pigmentsand dyes, can also be added to the aqueous dispersions either during orafter polymerization.

Polymer concentrations in compositions containing a starting latexpolymer, particularly those with dispersions in aqueous media, areordinarily greater than about 0.1 weight percent of the composition.Usually the concentrations are greater than 1 weight percent andpreferably greater than 5 weight percent, but most commonly in the rangefrom about 40 to 70 percent for those latexes resulting from emulsionpolymerization. The dispersed polymer particles in the compositioncontaining the starting latex polymer can be of any size suitable forthe intended use, although particle sizes of usually at least about 120nanometers are presently preferred since latex viscosity increases asparticle size is reduced substantially below that level. Most often, thedescribed latexes will have polymer particle sizes within the range fromabout 120 to about 300 nanometers as determined on the N-4 "Nanosizer"available from Colter Electronics, Inc., of Hialeah, Fla.

The stable, noncoagulated product admixture composition produced by theadmixing of the sol or gel composition with the composition containingat least one starting latex polymer is usually dried by suitable methodsknown in the art to produce a dried, substantially nonaqueous resultantlatex polymer/salt composition. For instance, when the compositioncontaining at least one starting latex polymer is an aqueous dispersion,the product admixture composition is usually air dried or oven dried ata temperature less than about 100° C.

The dried (nonaqueous) resultant latex polymer/salt compositionordinarily contains less water than contained in the aqueous dispersionof the starting latex polymer, and preferably contains substantially nowater, e.g., less than 1 weight percent water in the resultant latexpolymer/salt composition. The resultant latex polymer/salt compositionusually contains the same starting latex polymer; however, it is withinthe scope of the present invention that the starting latex polymer canbe converted to a different latex polymer after admixture of the sol orgel with the starting latex polymer. At least one cation and/or at leastone anion of the salt is dispersed in the dried resultant latexpolymer/salt composition. Although the invention is not bound by anytheory, it is believed that at least some of the particulates derivedfrom the starting salt exists as colloidal salt particulates dispersedin the resultant latex polymer/salt composition.

The concentration of the salt in any of the compositions describedherein is dependent upon the use of the particular composition.Ordinarily, a concentration of greater than about 0.001 weight percentof salt in the sol or gel gel is sufficient for most uses, although theresultant dried product composition, such as the resultant latexpolymer/salt composition, may contain a considerably lower concentrationof salt such as greater than typical detectable limits, i.e., greaterthan about 10⁻⁷ weight percent, and usually greater than about 10⁻⁴weight percent of salt in the resultant composition.

The presence of the salt dispersed in the resultant latex polymer/saltcomposition provides an improved electrical (alternating or direct)conductive or semiconductive property compared to the starting latexpolymer without the added salt. The resultant latex polymer/saltcompositions exhibit conductive properties greater than about 10⁻⁷Seimens/cm. The resultant latex polymer/salt composition is ordinarilycapable of conducting at least 0.5 microamperes of alternatingelectrical current when 5,000 volts (AC) of electricity are appliedbetween brass electrodes that are one inch apart. One electrical testingapparatus suitable for conducting this test is available from BiddleInstruments (Model No. 22005) of Philadelphia, Pa. Such electricalconductive properties are applied, as for example, when the productadmixture composition is coated and dried on carpet backing fibers toprovide antistatic properties to the carpeting.

Other applications for the resultant latex polymer/salt compositionsinclude biocidal polymers, polymers have discoloration retardantproperties, polymers useful as delay cross linkers in reservoirplugging, polymer coatings for anodic and cathodic protection, polymersfor thermal heating elements, antistatic adhesive tapes, catalyticagents, gloss enhanced polymers, as well as other uses such as laminatedcoatings as barriers to stain migration in textiles and floor coverings,sorbents containing flame retardant sols, and microwave food coatings.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples which areillustrative of specific modes of practicing the invention and are notintended as limiting the scope of the invention defined by the appendedclaims.

EXAMPLE 1

A sol containing cupric acetate is prepared as follows: to a 1 litercontainer is added 246 grams of ethylene glycol solvent, 166 grams ofcitric acid (monohydrate) stabilizer, 50 grams of cupric acetate(dihydrate) and 21.4 grams of concentrated nitric acid. From roomtemperature (about 25° C.), the mixture is slowly heated to 65° C. andheld at 65° C. for 10 hours. A clear, transparent product sol is formedhaving a blue cold. The transparent blue-colored sol contains cupriccations, acetate anions and colloidal size cupric acetate salt particlesdispersed in the liquid medium. Such a product is cooled to roomtemperature and the transparent product becomes opaque. An additional10.7 grams of nitric acid is added to the opaque product which resultsin the same degree of transparency and clarity as observed at 65° C. Thetransparent product is a stable sol having a pH of 0.1 and a viscosityof 290 cps.

EXAMPLE 2

Stable citric acid/ethylene glycol/nitric acid sols containing varioussalts are prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except varioussalts require different temperatures sufficient to form the sol. Thesetemperatures and the characteristics of the resulting sols are shown inTable A.

                                      TABLE A                                     __________________________________________________________________________                 Sol                Product                                                    Forming                                                                             Product Product                                                                            Viscosity,                                    Salt         Temp. °C.                                                                    Color   pH   Cps                                           __________________________________________________________________________    Aluminum Acetate                                                                           65    yellow  0.1  445                                           Aluminum Nitrate                                                                           70    colorless                                                                             0.1  306                                           Ammonium Acetate                                                                           65    colorless                                                                             2.4  130                                           Ammonium Molybdate                                                                         45    yellow  0.2  220                                           Ammonium     70    red     0.1  150                                           Molybdocobaltate                                                              Ammonium Nitrate                                                                           55    colorless                                                                             0.1  186                                           Antimony Acetate                                                                           70    colorless                                                                             0.3  772                                           Antimony Ethylene                                                                          40    colorless                                                                             <0.1 190                                           Glycoxide                                                                     Bismuth Nitrate                                                                            60    colorless                                                                             0.1  253                                           Boron Acetate                                                                              65    colorless                                                                             0.1  152                                           Cadmium Acetate                                                                            65    colorless                                                                             0.3  168                                           Calcium Acetate                                                                            65    colorless                                                                             0.1  180                                           Cerium Acetate                                                                             70    colorless                                                                             0.6  180                                           Cerium Nitrate                                                                             45    pale yellow                                                                           0.1  223                                           Cesium Acetate                                                                             65    colorless                                                                             0.1  150                                           Chromium Acetate                                                                           65    green   <0.1 169                                           Cobalt Acetate                                                                             65    red     <0.1 215                                           Cobalt       70    orange  1.0  156                                           Silylmolybdate                                                                Cupric Acetate                                                                             65    blue    <0.1 290                                           Dysprosium Chloride                                                                        60    yellow  0.4  334                                           Dysprosium Nitrate                                                                         70    yellow  <0.1 326                                           Ferric Citrate                                                                             85    brown   0.25 262                                           Lanthanum Acetate                                                                          65    colorless                                                                             0.1  265                                           Lanthanum Chloride                                                                         65    colorless                                                                             0.1  363                                           Lanthanum Nitrate                                                             Lanthanum Oxide                                                                            85    colorless                                                                             0.1  2630                                          Lead Acetate 65    colorless                                                                             0.1  140                                           Lithium Acetate                                                                            65    colorless                                                                             1.8  118                                           Magnesium Acetate                                                                          70    colorless                                                                             0.7  160                                           Mercuric Acetate                                                                           70    colorless                                                                             0.1  138                                           Neodymium Chloride                                                                         40    yellow-green                                                                          <0.1 200                                           Neodymium Nitrate                                                                          40    rose    0.1  193                                           Nickel Acetate                                                                             65    green   0.4  188                                           Nickel       50    green   <0.1 198                                           Phosphormolybdate                                                             Nickel       80    black-blue                                                                            0.6  390                                           Silylmolybdate                                                                Nickel       50    green   <0.1 246                                           Tetrafluoroborate                                                             Potassium Acetate                                                                          65    colorless                                                                             1.3  165                                           Potassium Phosphate                                                                        55    colorless                                                                             0.7  469                                           Monobasic                                                                     Praseodymium 65    green   0.4  120                                           Acetate                                                                       Silicon Acetate                                                                            70    colorless                                                                             <0.1 238                                           Silver Acetate                                                                             65    colorless                                                                             0.1  166                                           Sodium Acetate                                                                             65    colorless                                                                             1.6  100                                           Sodium Chromate                                                                            40    black-blue                                                                            <0.1 222                                           Sodium Molybdate                                                                           45    yellow  <0.1 216                                           Sodium Vanadate                                                                            80    black-blue                                                                            3.2  131                                           Strontium Acetate                                                                          60    colorless                                                                             1.1  475                                           Tetraetylammonium                                                                          40    colorless                                                                             1.0  139                                           Acetate                                                                       Tetraethylammonium                                                                         50    colorles                                                                              0.1  336                                           Chloride                                                                      Tetramethylammonium                                                                        50    colorless                                                                             0.1  310                                           Chloride                                                                      Tetraethylammonium                                                                         60    colorless                                                                             0.1  180                                           tetrafluoroborate                                                             Thallium Acetate                                                                           65    purple  0.1  168                                           Thorium Nitrate                                                                            50    colorless                                                                             0.1  211                                           Titanium Butoxide                                                                          60    orange  1.4  175                                           Titanium Ethoxide                                                                          60    colorless                                                                             0.3  154                                           Titanium     60    colorless                                                                             1.6  130                                           Isopropoxide                                                                  Trimethylbenzyl-                                                                           40    colorless                                                                             0.1  290                                           ammonium Chloride                                                             Uranyl Acetate                                                                             65    yellow  0.1  201                                           Yttrium Acetate                                                               Yttrium Chloride                                                                           60    colorless                                                                             <0.1 370                                           Yttrium Formate                                                                            60    colorless                                                                             0.1  393                                           Yttrium Nitrate                                                                            40    colorless                                                                             0.1  254                                           Zinc Acetate 65    colorless                                                                             0.6  258                                           __________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

A sol is prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except the 166grams of citric acid monohydrate stabilizer is replaced with 166 gramsof a nonionic surfactant stabilizer which is a polyethoxylatednonylphenol surfactant having 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole. Also,no nitric acid is added to the cooled admixture. The resulting sol istransparent and has a green color, a pH of 2.8 and a viscosity of 155cps.

EXAMPLE 4

Cupric acetate salt is replaced by other metallic salts in the samemethod of preparation as in Example 3 (i.e., addition of the nonionicsurfactant stabilizer) to produce sols having the color, pH, andviscosity characteristics summarized in Table B below:

                  TABLE B                                                         ______________________________________                                                                              Sol                                                                           Forming                                                              Viscosity Cps                                                                          Temp.                                   Metallic Salt                                                                             Color    pH      (Brookfield)                                                                           °C.                              ______________________________________                                        Aluminum Acetate                                                                          Yellow   1.5     185      80                                      Ammonium Acetate                                                                          Yellow   5.9     143      40                                      Ammonium Nitrate                                                                          Colorless                                                                              <0.1    126      40                                      Barium Acetate                                                                            Colorless                                                                              4.6     188      40                                      Calcium Nitrate                                                                           Yellow   <0.1    180      40                                      Cerous Nitrate                                                                            Yellow   <0.1    175      40                                      Cobalt Acetate                                                                            Red      3.5     186      40                                      Cupric Acetate                                                                            Green    2.8     155      40                                      Dysprosium Nitrate                                                                        Yellow   <0.1    182      40                                      Ferric Nitrate                                                                            Orange   1.1     180      40                                      Gadolinium Nitrate                                                                        Colorless                                                                              2.3     202      40                                      Lanthanum Nitrate                                                                         Yellow   <0.1    179      40                                      Magnesium Nitrate                                                                         Yellow   <0.1    188      40                                      Manganous Acetate                                                                         Orange   3.3     190      40                                      Mercurous Acetate                                                                         Yellow   <0.1    134      40                                      Neodymium Nitrate                                                                         Pink     2.9     200      40                                      Nickel Nitrate                                                                            Green    3.5     204      40                                      Praseodymium                                                                              Green    3.0     187      40                                      Nitrate                                                                       Strontium Nitrate                                                                         Yellow   <0.1    245      40                                      Titanium    Yellow   <0.1    114      40                                      Isopropoxide                                                                  Uranyl Nitrate                                                                            Yellow   <0.1    125      40                                      Ytterbium Nitrate                                                                         Colorless                                                                              2.6     186      40                                      Yttrium Nitrate                                                                           Colorless                                                                              <0.1    190      40                                      Zinc Acetate                                                                              Colorless                                                                              3.1     175      40                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5

Sols containing cupric acetate prepared in the same manner as inExamples 1 and 3, except the stabilizer is replaced in each sol with anindividually different nonionic surfactant. Characteristics of the solsincluding product viscosity, pH, surfactant Hydrophilic-LipophlicBalance (HLB), and the sol forming temperature are summarized in TableC.

                  TABLE C                                                         ______________________________________                                                    Sur-     Sol              Product                                 Nonionic    factant  Forming   Product                                                                              Viscosity,                              Surfactant  HLB      Temp. °C.                                                                        pH     Cps.                                    ______________________________________                                        9 mol EO    13.0     85        1.7    154                                     octylphenol                                                                   12.5 mole EO                                                                              14.6     85        1.5    148                                     octylphenol                                                                   7.5 mol EO  12.2     85        1.5    163                                     nonylphenol                                                                   8.5 mol EO  12.6     85        1.5    149                                     nonylphenol                                                                   9 mol EO    13.0     85        2.8    155                                     nonylphenol                                                                   10 mol EO   13.2     85        1.6    160                                     nonylphenol                                                                   10.5 mol EO 13.6     85        1.6    160                                     nonylphenol                                                                   12 mol EO   14.2     85        2.6    167                                     nonylphenol                                                                   15 mol EO   15.0     85        1.4    165                                     nonylphenol                                                                   20 mol EO   16.0     85        1.4    171                                     nonylphenol                                                                   12 mol EO dodecyl                                                                         14.5     85        1.0    140                                     alcohol                                                                       6 mol EO tridecyl                                                                         11.5     85        1.7    120                                     alcohol                                                                       10 mol EO oleyl                                                                           11.5     85        2.7    171                                     alcohol                                                                       10 mol EO cetyl                                                                           13.1     85        3.1    183                                     alcohol                                                                       20 mol EO oleyl                                                                           15.3     85        2.5    221                                     alcohol                                                                       20 mol EO cetyl                                                                           15.7     80        1.2    210                                     alcohol                                                                       23 mol EO lauryl                                                                          16.9     80        1.3    168                                     alcohol                                                                       Polyoxethylene       85        2.6    110                                     glycol 400                                                                    Polyoxethylene       85        2.7    120                                     glycol 600                                                                    Polyoxethylene       85        2.5    140                                     glycol 1000                                                                   Polyoxethylene       85        2.9    165                                     glycol 1500                                                                   Pluronic L35*                                                                             18.5     80        2.8    173                                     Pluronic L64                                                                              15.0     80        2.8    386                                     Pluronic P65                                                                              17.0     85        3.0    984                                     Pluronic P75                                                                              16.5     85        3.1    455                                     Pluronic P84                                                                              14.0     80        1.8    1288                                    Pluronic P85                                                                              10.0     85        3.1    1720                                    Pluronic P103                                                                              9.0     80        2.0    1824                                    Pluronic P104                                                                             13.0     85        3.3    1432                                    Pluronic P105                                                                             15.0     85        3.0    1684                                    Pluronic P123                                                                              8.0     85        1.7    2096                                    Polypropylene        85        1.4    152                                     glycol 425                                                                    80 mol EO sorbitan                                                                        19.7     70        2.6    170                                     monolaurate                                                                   20 mol EO sorbitan                                                            monopalmitate                                                                             15.6     80        1.2    188                                     20 mol EO sorbitan                                                                        15.1     80        1.3    160                                     monoleate                                                                     20 mol EO sorbitan                                                                        16.7     80        1.2    130                                     monolaurate                                                                   Tetronic 304*                                                                             17.0     85        2.7    155                                     Tetronic 704                                                                              15.0     85        2.7    297                                     Tetronic 904                                                                              14.5     85        2.8    417                                     Tetronic 1102                                                                              5.5     85        2.9    525                                     Tetronic 1504                                                                             12.5     85        3.5    717                                     ______________________________________                                         *Pluronic and Tetronic nonionic surfactants contain mixtures of polyols a     determined by basic grid FIGS. 2 and 6, pp. 2 and 4, respectively,            disclosed in "Pluronic Tetronic Surfactants," copyright BASF (1987).     

EXAMPLE 6

Sols containing cupric acetate are prepared in the same manner as inExample 5, except each sol contains a mixture of nonionic surfactants asthe stabilizer. The sols exhibit the following characteristics as shownin Table D.

                  TABLE D                                                         ______________________________________                                                             Sol                                                      Nonionic             Forming   Product                                                                              Product                                 Surfactant Blend                                                                            HLB    Temp. °C.                                                                        pH     Viscosity                               ______________________________________                                        10 wt. % Pluronic                                                                           17.1   85        2.9    173                                     L31* + 90 wt. % L35**                                                         90 wt. % Pluronic                                                                           19.7   85        2.7    188                                     L35** + 10 wt.                                                                % F38***                                                                      50 wt. % Igepal                                                                             14.3   85        2.9    201                                     CO530 + 50 wt. %                                                              Igepal CO890                                                                  ______________________________________                                         Igepal CO530 = 6 mol EO nonylphenol                                           Igepal CO890 = 40 mol EO nonylphenol                                          Pluronic *L31 = 10% EO + 90% PO polyglycol MW = 950                           **L35 = 50% EO + 50% PO polyglycol MW = 950                                   ***F38 = 80% EO + 20% PO polyglycol MW = 950                             

EXAMPLE 7

Sols containing cupric and zinc acetates/citric acid/nitric acid areprepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except the polyol solventsin Table E are substituted for the ethylene glycol solvent. Thetemperature required to form the sol, pH of the sol and viscosity of thesol are summarized in Table E.

                  TABLE E                                                         ______________________________________                                                           Sol                                                                           Forming  Product                                                                              Product                                    M     Solvent      Temp. C. pH     Viscosity, Cps.                            ______________________________________                                        Zinc  glycerine    65       0.2    4944                                       Zinc  propylene glycol                                                                           65       0.6     686                                       Zinc  pentanediol  60       0.1    1152                                       Cupric                                                                              glycerine    75       0.1    3200                                       Cupric                                                                              diethylene glycol                                                                          65       0.1    2000                                       Cupric                                                                              triethylene glycol                                                                         75       0.1    3550                                       Cupric                                                                              propylene glycol                                                                           60       0.1    1182                                       Cupric                                                                              polyoxyethylene                                                                            55       0.1     780                                             glycol 200                                                              ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8

A cupric acetate salt is admixed with a commercially available latexpolymer composition (designated as as "76 RES 4400" available from UnionChemicals Division of Unocal Corp., i.e., "UCD") containing a styrenebutadiene rubber (SBR), to produce a noncoagulated product admixturecomposition containing the stable, latex polymer together with thecupric acetate salt uniformly dispersed in the product admixture. Thecupric acetate salt is added to the composition containing the latexpolymer by addition of the sol prepared in Example 1 containing thecupric acetate salt.

One part by weight of the cupric acetate-containing sol is admixed with29 parts by weight of the composition containing the latex polymer toproduce a stable, non-coagulated product admixture compositioncontaining cupric acetate salt, including cupric cations, uniformlydispersed in the latex polymer. The stable product admixture indicatesthe sol and latex polymer are compatible, the resulting latex polymerproduct admixture being blue in color and no coagulation of the latexpolymer composition being observed for at least one month followingadmixing.

EXAMPLE 9

Several compositions containing latex polymers other than that inExample 8 are admixed in separate tests with the sol of Example 1. Thefollowing commercially available UCD compositions containing latexpolymer derived by emulsion polymerization are all compatible (i.e.,form stable, noncoagulated product admixtures) with the cupric acetatesol when admixed in the same manner as in Example 8: (76 RES 3103)polyvinylacetate, (76 RES 1019) styrene/acrylate, (76 RES 9608) acrylic,(76 RES 701) polyvinylidene chloride and (76 RES 661) vinyl acrylics.

EXAMPLE 10

Citric acid/ethylene glycol/nitric acid sols from Examples 1 and 2 arecompatibly combined with 76 RES 4400 in the same manner as in Example 8.The product admixture is prepared in a 3.5 inch Petri dish and air driedat room temperature for 1 week. The dried resultant latex polymer/saltfilms containing the various salts (and/or cations and/or anions) havethe electrical conductivity properties summarized in Table F. The BiddleModel No. 22005 Electric Testing Equipment is used to test the driedresultant latex polymer/salt films. The Biddle Testing Equipmentcontains brass strips which are placed one inch apart and voltage isapplied while determining current flow. The voltage required to producean alternating electrical current flow of five thousand microamperes issummarized in Table F.

                  TABLE F                                                         ______________________________________                                                           Voltage                                                    Sol Used           AC volts to give                                           76 RES 4400        5K microamps                                               ______________________________________                                        None               >>5K* .sup.                                                Aluminum Acetate   2700                                                       Aluminum Nitrate   1000                                                       Ammonium Acetate    950                                                       Ammonium Molybdate 1700                                                       Ammonium Molybdocobaltate                                                                        1700                                                       Ammonium Nitrate   1500                                                       Antimony Acetate   2000                                                       Antimony Ethyleneglycoxide                                                                       2300                                                       Bismuth Nitrate     950                                                       Boron Acetate      1800                                                       Cadmium Acetate    1050                                                       Calcium Acetate    1300                                                       Cerium Acetate     1850                                                       Cerium Nitrate     2700                                                       Cesium Acetate     1900                                                       Chromium Acetate   1800                                                       Cobalt Acetate     2200                                                       Cobalt Silylmolybdate                                                                            3100                                                       Cupric Acetate     1800                                                       Dysprosium Chloride                                                                              1000                                                       Dysprosium Nitrate 1000                                                       Ferric Citrate     2400                                                       Lanthanum Acetate  2100                                                       Lanthanum Chloride 2000                                                       Lanthanum Nitrate  3000                                                       Lanthanum Oxide    3000                                                       Lead Acetate       1450                                                       Lithium Acetate    1600                                                       Magnesium Acetate  2300                                                       Mercuric Acetate   4500                                                       Neodymium Chloride 1150                                                       Neodymium Nitrate  1500                                                       Nickel Acetate     1400                                                       Nickel Phosphomolybdate                                                                          3300                                                       Nickel Silylmolybdate                                                                            2050                                                       Nickel Tetrafluoroborate                                                                         2700                                                       Potassium Acetate  2150                                                       Praseodymium Acetate                                                                             1500                                                       Silicon Acetate    1400                                                       Silver Acetate     1350                                                       Sodium Acetate     1450                                                       Sodium Chromate    2100                                                       Sodium Molybdate   4000                                                       Sodium Vanadate    1700                                                       Strontium Acetate  1750                                                       Tetraethylammonium Acetate                                                                       1300                                                       Tetraethylammonium Chloride                                                                      3000                                                       Thallium Acetate   2600                                                       Thorium Nitrate     890                                                       Titanium Butoxide  3000                                                       Titanium Isopropoxide                                                                            3000                                                       Uranyl Acetate     1300                                                       Yttrium Acetate     700                                                       Yttrium Chloride   1600                                                       Yttrium Formate    2000                                                       Yttrium Nitrate     950                                                       Zinc Acetate       2350                                                       ______________________________________                                         *5000 AC volts gave <0.5 microamp reading                                

EXAMPLE 11

Some cupric acetate/ethylene glycol/nitric acid sols from Examples 5 and6 using different nonionic surfactants as stabilizers of the sol arecompatibly admixed with 76 RES 4400 SBR latex and dried in the samemanner as in Example 10. The dried resultant latex polymer/saltcompositions are tested as in Example 10 and the observed current flowdata summarized in Table G.

                  TABLE G                                                         ______________________________________                                                           AC volts AC current,                                       Nonionic Surfactant                                                                              Applied  microamperes                                      ______________________________________                                         9 mol EO octylphenol                                                                            2000      500                                              12.5 mol EO octylphenol                                                                          1000      46                                                7.5 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                           500     2700                                               8.5 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                          1300     5000                                               9 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                            1300     5000                                              10 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                            2000     1300                                              10.5 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                           350     5000                                              12 mol EO nonylphenol                                                                             350     5000                                              10 mol EO oleyl alcohol                                                                          4000     5000                                              10 mol EO cetyl alcohol                                                                          3600     5000                                              20 mol EO oleyl alcohol                                                                          3000     5000                                              20 mol EO cetyl alcohol                                                                          3800     5000                                              Polyoxyethylene glycol 400                                                                       1000     2150                                              Polyoxyethylene glycol 600                                                                       3000      820                                              Polyoxyethylene glycol 1000                                                                      4000     2500                                              Polyoxyethylene glycol 1500                                                                      3000     2800                                              Pluronic L35       4000     5000                                              Pluronic P65       5000     2800                                              Pluronic P75       4000     2830                                              Pluronic P84       5000       1.2                                             Pluronic P85       3000      230                                              Pluronic P103      5000       2.3                                             Pluronic P104      5000      570                                              Pluronic P105      5000      71                                               Pluronic P123      5000       0.5                                             Polypropylene glycol 425                                                                         5000     1000                                              80 mol EO sorbitan monolaurate                                                                   2900     5000                                              20 mol EO sorbitan monooleate                                                                    1550     5000                                              20 mol EO sorbitan monolaurate                                                                   1500     5000                                              10 wt. % Pluronic L31 +                                                                          4000      990                                              90 wt. % L35                                                                  90 wt. % Pluronic L35 +                                                                          5000     1880                                              10 wt. % F38                                                                  50 wt. % Igepal CO530 +                                                                           800     5000                                              50 wt. % Igepal CO890                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 12

Sols prepared in Example 4 are admixed with 76 RES 4400 SBR latex,dried, and the resultant latex polymer/salt compositions tested forelectrical conductivity in the same manner as in Example 10. The driedsol/latex products are tested as in Example 10 and the observed currentflow data summarized in Table H.

                  TABLE H                                                         ______________________________________                                                        Applied  AC current,                                          Salt            AC volts microamperes                                         ______________________________________                                        Aluminum Acetate                                                                              2000     5000                                                 Ammonium Acetate                                                                              1000     5000                                                 Cobalt Acetate  5000      900                                                 Cupric Acetate  1000     5000                                                 Mercuric Acetate                                                                              5000     1650                                                 Nickel Acetate  5000      400                                                 Uranyl Acetate  1000     5000                                                 ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 13

Acetate salts in the citric acid/ethylene glycol/nitric acid-preparedsols of Example 2 are admixed with a commercially available UCDcomposition containing a polyvinylidene chloride latex (76 RES P546 PVDClatex), dried and tested in the same manner as in Example 10. The driedsol/latex products are tested as in Example 10 and the observed currentflow data summarized in Table J.

                  TABLE J                                                         ______________________________________                                                       AC Volts AC current,                                           Cation         Applied  microamperes                                          ______________________________________                                        None           5000       85                                                  Aluminum       3000     >5000                                                 Ammonium       4000     >5000                                                 Cadmium        5000       72                                                  Calcium        5000       360                                                 Chromium       5000       95                                                  Cobalt         4000     >5000                                                 Cupric         5000       160                                                 Lanthanum      5000       130                                                 Lead           5000       118                                                 Lithium        4000     >5000                                                 Magnesium      5000     >5000                                                 Nickel         5000       380                                                 Potassium      5000       600                                                 Praseodymium   5000       135                                                 Silicon        5000       129                                                 Sodium         4000     >5000                                                 Strontium      5000       210                                                 Uranium        5000       111                                                 Yttrium        4000     >5000                                                 Zinc           5000     >5000                                                 ______________________________________                                    

In view of the foregoing description of the invention including theexamples thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications,and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the concept of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intendedin the invention to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, andvariations as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A process for preparing a sol or gel useful for addition toa composition containing at least one starting latex polymer, saidprocess comprising:(1) admixing (a) at least one nonaqueous solvent, (b)at least one stabilizer comprising a nonionic surfactant and (c) atleast one salt, and (2) heating the admixture at a temperaturesufficient to produce a sol or gel composition having a pH of less thanabout 6.0 and containing said salt in the form of anions and cations orcolloidal salt particulates.
 2. The process defined in claim 1 furthercomprising admixing (d) an acidic component prior to heating.
 3. Theprocess defined in claim 1 further comprising admixing an acidiccomponent with said admixture after heating the admixture.
 4. Theprocess defined in claim 2 or 3 wherein said acid component is selectedfrom the group consisting of concentrated nitric acid, concentratedhydrochloric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid.
 5. The process definedin claim 2 or 3 wherein said acidic component is selected from the groupconsisting of protic acids and Lewis acids.
 6. The process defined inclaim 2 or 3 wherein said acidic component is selected from the groupconsisting of inorganic acids and organic acids and said sol or gel hasa pH less than about 4.0.
 7. The process defined in claim 3 wherein saidsol or gel has a pH less than about 0.1.
 8. The process defined in claim1 wherein said sol or gel has a pH less than about 4.0.
 9. The processdefined in claim 1 wherein said solvent is a polyol.
 10. The processdefined in claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises ethylene glycol,glycerine, pentanediol, polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxpropylene glycol,mixed (polyethylene-polyoxypropylene) glycol or blocked(polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene) glycol.
 11. The process defined inclaim 1 wherein said stabilizer further comprises a chelator.
 12. Theprocess defined in claim 11 wherein said stabilizer is a nonionicsurfactant having the formula

    R--(EO).sub.x (PO).sub.y --R.sup.1

wherein each of R and R¹ is independently selected from the groupingconsisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl,dialkylaryl, aliphatic ester and aryl ester radicals, EO is ethyleneoxide, PO is propylene oxide, and x and y are nonnegative integers. 13.The process defined in claim 12 wherein said stabilizer is aglycerine-derived nonionic surfactant having the formula ##STR2##wherein each of R, R¹ and R¹¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl,dialkylaryl aliphatic ester and aryl ester radicals, EO is ethyleneoxide, PO is propylene oxide and x, y, a, b, m and n are nonnegativeintegers.
 14. The process defined in claim 12 wherein said stabilizer isa nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of 1-100percent by weight of ethylene oxide in combination with 0-99 percent byweight of propylene oxide and having a molecular weight from 62 to5,000, 6-50 mol EO lauryl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO cetyl alcohol, 6-50 molEO mystryl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO stearyl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO phenol,6-50 mol EO butyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO octyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO decylphenol, 6-50 mol EO dodecyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO nonyl phenol, and 10-90mol EO sorbitan monolaurate, or monocetylate or monomyristate ormonostearate.
 15. The process defined in claim 1 wherein said stabilizerfurther comprises a hydroxycarboxylic acid.
 16. The process defined inclaim 15 wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the groupconsisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, mesotartaric acid, glycolicacid, γ-hydroxybutyric acid, mandelic acid, glyceric acid, malic acidand lactic acid.
 17. The process defined in claim 1 wherein said saltcontains a cation or anion selected from the group consisting ofmetallic cations or metallic anions, monomeric nonmetallic cations ormonomeric nonmetallic anions, and polymeric nonmetallic cations orpolymeric nonmetallic anions.
 18. The process defined in claim 17wherein said metallic cation is selected from the group consisting ofantimony, yttrium, cadmium, silver, calcium, cerium, manganese, nickel,niobium, lead, uranium, barium, chromium, cesium, copper, lithium,sodium, potassium, palladium, praseodymium, aluminum, cobalt, iron,gold, lanthanum, magnesium, thallium, zinc, dysprosium, samarium,gadolinium, erbium, strontium, ytterbium, titanium and mercury.
 19. Theprocess defined in claim 17 wherein said monomeric nonmetallic cation isselected from the group consisting of ammonium, boron and silicon. 20.The process defined in claim 19 wherein said monomeric nonmetallicanions are selected from the group consisting of nitrates, acetates,halides, borates, phosphates, formates, citrates, benzoates, tartrates,silicates, nitrites, carbonates, oxides and alkoxides.
 21. The processdefined in claim 17 wherein said polymeric cations are selected from thegroup consisting of monoolefinic quaternary ammonium cations, diolefinicquaternary ammonium cations, triolefinic quaternary ammonium cations andtetraolefinic quaternary ammonium cations.
 22. The process defined inclaim 17 wherein said polymeric anions are selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl, aryl, ether or alkylaryl sulfonates, sulfates,phosphates, carboxylates and polycarboxylates.
 23. The process definedin claim 17 wherein said nonmetallic anion comprises an element selectedfrom the group consisting of fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon,tellurium, selenium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, bromine and iodine.24. The process defined in claim 17 wherein said metallic-containinganion comprises an element selected from the group consisting ofarsenic, chromium, tin, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, vanadium,manganese and molybdenum.
 25. The process defined in claim 1 whereinsaid sol or gel has a pH less than about 1.0.
 26. The process defined inclaim 1 wherein said admixture is heated to a temperature in the rangefrom about 30° C. to about 90° C.
 27. A sol or gel compositioncomprising:(1) at least one nonaqueous solvent, (2) at least one salt inthe form of cations and anions or colloidal salt particulates, and (3) astabilizer comprising a nonionic surfactant, and wherein saidcomposition has a pH less than about 6.0.
 28. The composition defined inclaim 27 further comprising an acidic component.
 29. The compositiondefined in claim 28 wherein said acidic component is selected from thegroup consisting of concentrated nitric acid, concentrated hydrochloricacid and concentrated sulfuric acid.
 30. The composition defined inclaim 28 wherein said acidic component is selected from the groupconsisting of protic acids and Lewis acids.
 31. The composition definedin claim 28 wherein said acidic component is selected from the groupconsisting of inorganic acids and organic acids.
 32. The compositiondefined in claim 27 having a pH less than 4.0 and being transparent. 33.The composition defined in claim 27 wherein said nonaqueous solvent is apolyol.
 34. The process defined in claim 27 wherein said nonaqueoussolvent comprises ethylene glycol, glycerine, pentanediol,polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, mixed(polyethylene-polyoxypropylene) glycol or blocked(polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene) glycol.
 35. The composition definedin claim 27 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula

    R--(EO).sub.x (PO).sub.y --R.sup.1

wherein each of R and R¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl,dialkylaryl, aliphatic ester and aryl ester radicals, EO is ethyleneoxide, PO is propylene oxide, and x and y are nonnegative integers. 36.The composition defined in claim 35 wherein said stabilizer is aglycerine-derived nonionic surfactant having the formula ##STR3##wherein each of R, R¹ and R¹¹ is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, monoalkylaryl,dialkylaryl, aliphatic ester and aryl ester radicals, EO is ethyleneoxide, PO is propylene oxide and x, y, a, b, m and n are nonnegativeintegers.
 37. The process defined in claim 35 wherein said stabilizer isa nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of 1-100percent by weight of ethylene oxide in combination with 0-99 percent byweight of ethylene oxide in and having a molecular weight from 62 to5,000, 6-50 mol EO lauryl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO cetyl alcohol, 6-50 molEO mystryl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO stearyl alcohol, 6-50 mol EO phenol,6-50 mol EO butyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO octyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO decylphenol, 6-50 mol EO dodecyl phenol, 6-50 mol EO nonyl phenol, and 10-90mol EO sorbitan monolaurate, or monocetylate or monomyristate ormonostearate.
 38. The composition defined in claim 27 wherein said saltcontains a cation or anion selected from the group consisting ofmetallic cations or metallic anions, monomeric nonmetallic cations ormonomeric nonmetallic anions, and polymeric nonmetallic cations orpolymeric nonmetallic anions.
 39. The composition defined in claim 38wherein said metallic cations is selected from the group consisting ofantimony, yttrium, cadmium, silver, calcium, cerium, manganese, nickel,niobium, lead, uranium, barium, chromium, cesium, copper, lithium,sodium, potassium, palladium, praseodymium, aluminum, cobalt, iron,gold, lanthanum, magnesium, thallium, zinc, dysprosium, samarium,gadolinium, erbium, strontium, ytterbium, titanium and mercury.
 40. Thecomposition defined in claim 38 wherein said monomeric nonmetalliccations is selected form the group consisting of ammonium, boron andsilicon.
 41. The process defined in claim 40 wherein said monomericnonmetallic anions are selected from the group consisting of nitrates,acetates, halides, borates, phosphates, formates, citrates, benzoates,tartrates, silicates, nitrites, carbonates, oxides and alkoxides. 42.The composition defined in claim 38 wherein said nonmetallic anioncomprises an element selected from the group consisting of fluorine,oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, tellurium, selenium, phosphorus, sulfur,chlorine, bromine and iodine.
 43. The composition defined in claim 38wherein said metallic-containing anion comprises an element selectedfrom the group consisting arsenic, chromium, tin, aluminum, titanium,zirconium, vanadium, manganese and molybdenum.
 44. A sol or gelcomposition comprising:(A) at least one nonaqueous solvent, (B) at leastone salt in the form of cations and anions or colloidal saltparticulates, and (C) a stabilizer comprising a nonionic surfactant,said composition prepared by a process comprising:(1) admixing (a) atleast one nonaqueous solvent, (b) at least one stabilizer comprising anonionic surfactant and (c) at least one solid phase salt, and 2 (2)heating the admixture at a temperature in the range from about 30° C. toabout 90° C. for sufficient time to produce said sol or gel compositionhaving a pH less than about 6.0.
 45. The composition defined in claim 44having a pH less than about 3.0 and wherein said admixture furthercomprises an acidic component.